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The character 肖 originates from ancient Chinese oracle bone script, depicting a person with a small body, emphasizing the concept of 'resemblance' and 'likeness.' The character is composed of 月 (flesh/body) and 小 (small), suggesting a child who physically resembles their parents. Over time, 肖 evolved to mean 'to resemble' or 'to be like,' as seen in words like 肖像 (portrait) and 不肖 (unworthy). In the Liushutong, L23210 represents an early seal script form that clearly shows the compositional elements that would standardize into the modern 肖. Arrived in Japan: The character 肖 likely arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE along with the broader introduction of Chinese writing systems, either directly from China or via the Korean peninsula. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as part of the kanji imported during the Asuka and Nara periods, when Japan was systematically adopting Chinese cultural and administrative practices.